While the other running shoe start-ups have opted for a low heel-toe drop (Hoka), even lower (Newton), and absolutely none at all (Altra), On shoes all have a more moderate drop of 6-7 mm from heel to toe. What characterizes On’s shoes instead is the differential between gentle cushioning in the heel and a firm forefoot. In a display of Swiss engineering, shoes like the Cloudster have very different cushioning profiles in front and back, with a notably soft landing in the heel and a cirm and snappy toe-off up front. Only the Cloudsurfer offers a higherdistinction between levels of front and heel cushioning than the Cloudster.